Spark wheel actuating mechanism particularly for cigarette lighters

ABSTRACT

In a spark wheel actuating mechanism of the type that accumulates and suddenly releases energy, in order to render the operation independent of the skill of the user, the said mechanism includes an arming disc turnable by the user; said arming disc compresses a driving spring which exerts a force on a pivotable lever immobilized by a detent and operatively connected to the spark wheel; at the end of its possible angular displacement, the said arming disc causes displacement of said detent. As a result, the said arm is rapidly swung by said spring and thus, a brief, high-speed rotation is imparted to the spark wheel.

[ 51 May 9, 1972 United States Patent Du Pont References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [54] SPARK WHEEL ACTUATING MECHANISM PARTICULARLY FOR CIGARETTE LIGHTERS [72] Inventor:

1,485,342 Benham et a1.........................431/137 2,196,879 4/1940 Trollen..................................431/137 3: 1: Franc Pans 2,514,709 7/1950 Lauber..................................431/275 Primary Examiner-Edward J. Michael Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg [73] Assignee: S. T. Dupont (Societe Anonyme), Paris,

France 7] ABSTRACT in a spark wheel actuating mechanism of the type that accumulates and suddenly releases energy, in order to render the 22 Filed: Feb. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:

operation independent of the skill of the user, the said [30] Forelgn Apphcanon Data mechanism includes an arming disc tumable by the user; said Feb. 21, 1969 arming disc compresses a driving spring which exerts a force France..................................6904557 on a pivotable lever immobilized by a detent and operatively connected to the spark wheel; at the end of its possible angular the said arming disc causes displacement of said detent. As a result, the said arm is rapidly swung by said spring f, high-speed rotation is imparted to the spark wheel.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPARK WHEEL ACTUATING MECHANISM PARTICULARLY FOR CIGARETTE LIGHTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to spark wheel actuating mechanisms which, under the effect of a continued force exerted by the user, accumulate potential energy which is suddenly released rotating the spark wheel with great acceleration and speed.

The spontaneous ignition of particles torn from a flint by the frictional engagement with a spark wheel, depends in a large measure on the heat generated by such friction. To ensure ignition, it is thus advantageous to increase the heat. Such heat increase, in turn, may be achieved by increasing the rotational speed of the spark wheel.

In most all known spark wheel actuating mechanisms the rotational speed of the spark wheel depends entirely, or at least in part, on the skill of the user, whether he acts directly upon the spark wheel driving means or whether he causes the spark wheel to rotate by an intennediate linkage system. In all known devices of the latter type, which are often improperly designated as automatic or semi-automatic, a point of maximum resistance has to be overcome by the arming means. For this purpose, the user has to increase the force exerted by his finger on the anning means, and thus accumulating in his finger a certain potential energy which is suddenly released as soon as said resistance is overcome and thus the necessary rotational speed is imparted on the spark wheel.

In order to render the functioning of the spark wheel actuating mechanism independent of the skill of the user, several systems have already been proposed in which the spark generating mechanism, which is formed of a lever and pivoting link assembly, is actuated by elastic means during the displacement of an arming means. The said spark generating mechanism is retained in an inactive position and the elastic means accumulates potential energy during a first part of the displacement of the arming means. During the terminal motion of the latter, the spark generating mechanism is released and is driven by the suddenly released elastic means.

Known devices of the aforenoted type all have the disadvantage that they are relatively cumbersome and therefore they find application only on cigarette lighters provided with a pivoting closure. The height of such closure permits to accommodate a part of the mechanism and permits the use of the lever and pivoting link assembly. Further, the displacement of the arming means in all known structures encounters a point of maximum resistance at the moment when the mechanism is released. To overcome this point, a particular effort on behalf of the user is required. Such increased effort, however, is compatible only with a longitudinally shifting arming means or with one which comprises a sufficiently long pivoting lever.

It is apparent that the aforenoted disadvantages do not permit to adopt such a device in a cylindrical cigarette lighter without substantially increasing its height or without providing it with components which protrude laterally, at least during the process of ignition.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved spark wheel actuating mechanism of the type that accumulates and suddenly releases energy during a cycle of operation that is in dependent of the users skill.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved spark wheel actuating mechanism of the aforenoted type that result, the said spring causes a sudden, rapid pivotal motion of said arm. By virtue of a linkage means connecting said arm with said spark wheel, the latter is caused to briefly and rapidly rotate as the arm pivots under the force of the suddenly released energy of said spring.

The invention will be better understood, as well as further objects and advantages will become more apparent, from the ensuing detailed specification of a preferred, although exemplary, embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are bottom plan views of the preferred embodiment of the invention in positions of rest, tensioning and releasing, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cylindrical cigarette lighter body, not shown, with which the mechanism according to the invention is associated, includes at its upper ten'ninus a fixed circular mounting plate 3 provided along a peripheral portion with a wide cutout or notch C. Openings in the plate 3 to accommodate the burner and the flint tube are not shown The means for arming the spark wheel actuating mechanism is formed of a disc 1, the periphery 1a of which is knurled for firm engagement with the users finger. Such engagement is further assisted by a disc diameter slightly larger than that of the cylindrical lighter body. The arming disc 1 is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate 3 by means of a centrally disposed bearing pin 2.

To the arming disc 1 there is rigidly afl'lxed a support 4 integral with a nose A oriented inwardly. The support 4 carries an abutment lug 5 and a pin 13 about which pivots a rod 10 by means of a collar 6 integral with said rod. The support 4, which is disposed in the cutout C, limits the angular movement of the disc 1 to the width of the cutout. The spark wheel, which is not visible in the figures, has a shaft 16, to which there is keyed a hexagonal member G carrying a ratchet wheel 17. In this manner, the spark wheel and the ratchet wheel 17 are constrained to rotate in unison.

About shaft 16'of the spark wheel there is mounted for free pivotal motion a plate 15 which carries a pawl 18 pivotally secured thereto by a pin 19. The pawl 18 is urged against the ratchet wheel 17 by a spring 20 also carried by the plate 15.

An angularly bent lever 7 is mounted for pivotal motion in the plane of the plate 15 about a pin 8 affixed to the mounting plate 3. The pivot pin 8 divides the lever 7 into two an'ns of substantially unequal lengths. At the terminusof its longer arm, the lever 7 carries a joumaling thimble 9 secured thereto by means of a pivot pin E. To the long arm of lever 7 there is pivotally mounted, between pins 8 and E, an arcuate link 12 by means of a pin 13. The other end of arcuate link 12 is pivotally jointed to plate 15. The arm 12 is shaped in such a manner that, in its position of rest, it partially surrounds the ratchet wheel 17 to further reduce the dimensions of the device. The rod 10 slidably projects through the thimble 9 and carries at its terminus a head D which forms an abutment for the thimble 9. A coil spring 11 surrounds the rod 10 and is slightly precompressed between the collar 6 and the thimble 9 when the latter abuts the head D.

The spark wheel actuating mechanism further comprises a detent means formed by a rocker 21 pivotally mounted on plate 3 by a pin 22. A spring 24 urges the rocker 21 to engage an abutment lug 23 integral with plate 3. The pivot pin 22 divides the rocker or detent 21 into twoarms of unequal lengths. When the rocker 21, in its position of rest, is in engagement with the abutment lug 23, a roller 25 carried at the terminus of the shorter arm of rocker 21 is nested in a depression H provided in the shorter arm of lever 7. At the terminus of its long arm, the rocker 21 carries a roller 26 which, in the position of rest, lies substantially tangentially with respect to the base of the cutout C.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the position of rest (FIG. 1), the rocker 21 is in contact with the abutment 23; the roller 25 is in engagement with the depression H. The slightly precompressed driving spring 11 exerts a weak clockwise torque through thimble 9 on lever 7 about pin 8. In this position of rocker '21, the lever 7 is maintained immobilized by the roller 25. The pawl 18 is urged by the spring 20 into one of the teeth of the ratchet 17. As well seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this immobilized position of the lever 7, the ratchet-engaging portion of the pawl 18 is at a distance from that tooth of the ratchet wheel 17 which is next to cooperate with the pawl 18. i

For generating a spark, the user engages, usually with his thumb, the knurled portion 1a of the arming disc 1 and starts rotating it about pivot 2 (FIG. 2). During such rotation, the support 4 travels in cutout C. Since the lever 7 is still held locked by the roller 25 of the rocker 21, the rod 10 slides in the thimble 9 and, as a'result, the driving spring 11 is compressed between the thimble 9 and the collar 6. Upon travelling a predetermined course, the nose A enters into abutting engagement with the roller 26 and, upon continued motion of the arming disc 1, the rocker 21 is moved clockwise against the force of its return spring 24.- Thus, the rocker 21 moves away from the abutment 23 and the roller 25 rolls in the depression H towards the end of the lever 7, still maintaining the latter in its initial, locked position. The compression of the driving Spring 11 continues.

As the support 4 nears the end of the cutout C (FIG. 3), and before the roller 26 escapes the nose A, the roller 25 glides off the depression B. At that moment, since the lever 7 is no longer restrained, the driving spring 11 suddenly expands, moving the lever rapidly clockwise about pin 8. Consequently, the lever pulls the link 12 which, in turn, causes a fast rotation of the plate 15 and an orbital motion of pawl 18. The latter, after a short travel, enters into engagement with a tooth of ratchet wheel 17 and thus, from this moment on, the plate 15 and the ratchet wheel 17 (and thus the spark wheel, not shown) rotate in unison at high speed. In the embodiment described, the rotation of the ratchet wheel 17 is equal to onefifth of its circumference. The pivotal motion of the lever 7 and consequently the rotation of the plate 15 and of the ratchet wheel 17 are limited by an abutment lug 27 affixed to the plate 3. In this manner, an impact of thimble 9 against the head D'is prevented. It is to be noted that in this position of release, the rocker 21 is not able to return to its initial position under the action of spring 24, since the roller 25 is in abutting engagement with the frontal edge of the short arm of lever 7.

As the user releases the arming disc 1, the latter is returned to its position of rest by a spring 28 which is in engagement with the abutment lug affixed to support 4. During the course of this return movement, the head D of the rod draws with it counterclockwise the lever 7 by engagement with the thimble 9; the link 12 turns the plate counterclockwise, while the pawl 18 passes over a tooth of the ratchet wheel 17 (maintained in position by thepressure of the flint exerted onthe spark wheel) and assumes a position behind the next tooth of the ratchet 17. The rocker 21 is returned by the spring 24 to the abutment 23 and the roller 25 assumes its initial position in the depression H of the lever 7.

Thus, the mechanism is re-set into its initial position of rest and is ready to perform a new cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A spark wheel actuating mechanism, comprising A. an arming means manually rotatable to a predetermined extent, B. a rod pivotally secured at one end to said arming means,

C. a lever pivotable about an axis spaced from the axis of said spark wheel, D. a thimble pivotally secured to said lever remote from its 'pivot'al axis, said rod being slidably held in said thimble,

E. a coil spring surrounding said rod between said arming means and said thimble and accumulating potential enerb bein ro essivel com ressed b id i i ri ean s upon r ta on therbof, sai d coil sprinz exeit iiig g torque on said lever through said thimble,

F.- detent means maintaining said lever locked until said arming means reaches a predetermined position during the course of its limited rotary movement under the effect of a manual force applied thereto, said detent means being formed of a rocker angularly movable about a pivot, said pivot dividing said rocker into 1. a relatively short arm having an end for engaging said lever to hold the latter in a locked position and 2. a relatively long arm having an end,

G. means connecting said lever to said spark wheel to cause rotation of the latter upon pivotal motion of said lever, and

H. means for engaging the end of said relatively long arm to I pivot said rocker and to move the end of said relatively short arm out of contact with said lever when said arming means reaches said predetermined position for unlocking said lever to permit a pivotal motion thereof in response to said torque.

2. A spark wheel actuating mechanism, comprising A. an arming means manually rotatable to a predetermined extent,

B. resilient driving means connected to said arming means and accumulating potential energy upon rotation of said arming means,

C. a lever pivotable about an axis spaced from the axis of said spark wheel, said resilient means connected to and exerting a torque on said lever,

D. detent means maintaining said lever locked until said arming means reaches a predetermined position during the course of its limited rotary movement under the effect of a manual force applied thereto, said detent means being formed of a rocker angularly movable about a pivot, said pivot dividing said rocker into 1. a relatively short arm having an end for engaging said lever to hold the latter in a locked position and 2. a relatively long arm having an en E. means connecting said lever to said spark wheel to cause rotation of the latter upon pivotal motion of said lever and including 1. a link pivotally secured by one end to said lever at a location remote from its pivotal axis,

2. a plate mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said spark wheel; the other end of said link is pivotally secured to said plate at a location remote from its pivotal axis,

3. means connecting said spark wheel with said plate to cause a rotation in unison therewith when said lever executes a pivotal motion in response to said torque and F. means for engaging the end of said relatively long arm to pivot said rocker and to move the end of said relatively short arm out of contact with said lever when said arming means reaches said predetermined position for unlocking said lever to permit a pivotal motion thereof in response to said torque.

3. A spark wheel actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said means connecting said spark wheel with said plate is formed of A. a ratchet wheel connected to said spark wheel and B. a pawl pivotally secured to said plate and cooperating with a tooth of said ratchet wheel during pivotal movement of said plate in response to said torque.

4. A spark wheel actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said lever and said plate pivot in the same plane.

gggg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 661,498 Dated Mav 9, 1972 Inventor(s) Andre Pierre Francois Dupont It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: I

0n the cover sheet of the patent the inventor's last name is printed incorrectly, i.e., "Du Pont", The correct spelling should be Dupont Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJFLETCHERQJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A spark wheel actuating mechanism, comprising A. an arming means manually rotatable to a predetermined extent, B. a rod pivotally secured at one end to said arming means, C. a lever pivotable about an axis spaced from the axis of said spark wheel, D. a thimble pivotally secured to said lever remote from its pivotal axis, said rod being slidably held in said thimble, E. a coil spring surrounding said rod between said arming means and said thimble and accumulating potential energy by being progressively compressed by said arming means upon rotation thereof, said coil spring exerting a torque on said lever through said thimble, F. detent means maintaining said lever locked until said arming means reaches a predetermined position during the course of its limited rotary movement under the effect of a manual force applied thereto, said detent means being formed of a rocker angularly movable about a pivot, said pivot dividing said rocker into
 1. a relatively short arm having an end for engaging said lever to hold the latter in a locked position and
 2. a relatively long arm having an end, G. means connecting said lever to said spark wheel to cause rotation of the latter upon pivotal motion of said lever, and H. means for engaging the end of said relatively long arm to pivot said rocker and to move the end of said relatively short arm out of contact with said lever when said arming means reaches said predetermined position for unlocking said lever to permit a pivotal motion thereof in response to said torque.
 2. a relatively long arm having an end, G. means connecting said lever to said spark wheel to cause rotation of the latter upon pivotal motion of said lever, and H. means for engaging the end of said relatively long arm to pivot said rocker and to move the end of said relatively short arm out of contact with said lever when said arming means reaches said predetermined position for unlocking said lever to permit a pivotal motion thereof in response to said torque.
 2. A spark wheel actuating mechanism, comprising A. an arming means manually rotatable to a predetermined extent, B. resilient driving means connected to said arming means and accumulating potential energy upon rotation of said arming means, C. a lever pivotable about an axis spaced from the axis of said spark wheel, said resilient means connected to and exerting a torque on said lever, D. detent means maintaining said lever locked until said arming means reaches a predetermined position during the course of its limited rotary movement under the effect of a manual force applied thereto, said detent means being formed of a rocker angularly movable about a pivot, said pivot dividing said rocker into
 2. a relatively long arm having an end, E. means connecting said lever to said spark wheel to cause rotation of the latter upon pivotal motion of said lever and including
 2. a plate mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said spark wheel; the other end of said link is pivotally secured to said plate at a location remote from its pivotal axis,
 3. means connecting said spark wheel with said plate to cause a rotation in unison therewith when said lever executes a pivotal motion in response to said torque and F. means for engaging the end of saiD relatively long arm to pivot said rocker and to move the end of said relatively short arm out of contact with said lever when said arming means reaches said predetermined position for unlocking said lever to permit a pivotal motion thereof in response to said torque.
 3. A spark wheel actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said means connecting said spark wheel with said plate is formed of A. a ratchet wheel connected to said spark wheel and B. a pawl pivotally secured to said plate and cooperating with a tooth of said ratchet wheel during pivotal movement of said plate in response to said torque.
 4. A spark wheel actuating mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said lever and said plate pivot in the same plane. 